The two mayors also placed some of the cities' signature dishes on the line. If the Broncos win, Rawlings-Blake agreed to send to Denver a platter of broiled crab cakes from J. W. Faidley Seafood in Baltimore’s historic Lexington Market. Should Baltimore prevail, Hancock agreed to send east a box of dry aged “cowboy cut” rib eye steaks from Lombardi Brothers Meats.

"This is, of course, Ray Lewis’ final post-season as a Raven. He and his teammates are playing with a renewed sense of camaraderie and urgency, which the Denver Broncos will be unable to match,” Rawlings-Blake said in a statement.

"The road to the Super Bowl runs right through Denver, and I can’t think of a better city to host Ray Lewis’ last game of his acclaimed career," countered Hancock.

The two mayors placed the wager during a phone call Friday afternoon. The Ravens (11-6) face the host Broncos (13-3) at 4:30 p.m. for a chance to advance to the AFC championship game.